Game device



Dec. 12, 1933. J. K.'SEYMOUR GAME DEVICE Filed Sept. 20

Joh Sey our patented Dec. 12,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,939,142 GAME DEVICE John K. Seymour, .Elyria, Ohio,..assignor to Arthur J. Curren, Elyria, Ohio Application September 20, 1930 Serial No. 483,291

14 Claims. (01. 273-36) This invention relates'to game devices and particularly to devices with which a game simulating the game of golf can be played. In another aspect, my invention relates to devices for practicing certain strokes of the game'of golf.

It is one of the objects of my inventionto provide a device which maybe used in place of the usual cup or hole in the golf course.

Another object is to provide a game device adapted to be used indoor's'where it is not practicable to provide the usual cup into which the golf ball is rolled by the putting stroke.

Another object is'to provide a game device adapted to receive and hold a golf ball rolled thereto similarly to the manner in which a golf ball is received and held in the usual golf course cup. Y

Another object is to provide a device with which I the stroke of putting maybe practiced and per fected in places such as indoors, 01' on the lawn class referred to which will be cheap to manufacture and assemble, and efficient in operation.

Another object is to provide a device of the class referred to which will be compact and small in size, and therefore rendered easily portable in the pocket of the user.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed'in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig.1 is a View illustrating one use of an em bodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the device shown associated with a golf ball;

Fig. 3 is a view taken approximately from the plane 3 of Fig. 2; v

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification.

' Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, I show at 11, a pair of I similar dish-like elements, preferably l formed from sheet metal by cutting and pression operations. Each of the elements 1 comprises a bottom portion 2 and side wall portions 3 preferably annular in cross-sections at right angles to the axis of the circular base 2. As shown in connection with the upperof the two elements 1 in Fig. 2, the wall portion 3 slopes upwardly outwardly as at 5 at an angle of approximately 45 to the bottom 2, and for a suitable distance where, as at 4, it changes direction and slopes Lupwardly outwardly at a more acute angle with the plane of the bottom 2. The steeper portion 5 of the wall may be referred to as the body of Whenthe two elements 11 are placed together with their bottoms in juxtaposition, a deep, wide, annular recess is formed therebetween; as

shown at 7. The elements 1 are so shaped and formed that the axial distance from the portion '6 ofone element to the corresponding portion say 6' of the other element, as shown in Fig. 2 is slightly less than the diameterof a golf ball.

The elements 1 at approximately the centers of their bottoms 2 are provided with perforations 8-8, through which. the shank of a bolt 9 is projected, the head of thebolt 10. resting upon one of the bo'ttoms,2.; On the threaded shank of the boltis provided an adjusting nut 11 between which and. the corresponding bottom 2 is placed a washer or disk 12' of resilient. compressible material such as rubber, sponge rubber, or the like. The disk 12 permits one of the cup elements 1 to be rocked on the other resiliently,

and the force necessaryto rock it may be adjusted by the nut 11. r

The operation of my improved game device is as follows: As illustrated in Fig. 1, thegame device, illustrated generally at 13, is placed upon the floor or ground 14. A golf ball 15 is placed on the flooror ground at a suitable distance such as a putting distance from the device 13, and is struck with a golf club 16. The ball .15 rolls toward the device 13.just as itf would roll toward a, golf course cup. If the stroke is correct, the ball 15 will ,roll toward the center or axis of the device 13, and will enter the annular recess 7. If the ball is thus driven with just the right amount of force which, on a golf coursefwould cause it to drop into the cup, this force will be just enough to cause the ball 15 to engage the portionsfi and 6', as in Fig. 2, and spread them apart, compressingthe resilient disk 12. .The angle between the portions fiand'fi' is such that they will grip the ball 15' and hold it, preventing its rolling out of the recess 7.

If,.on the other hand, the ball is struck too hard so that on agolf course green it would not drop into the cup, such force will be sufficient to drive the b'all15 inwardly of the recess 7 and into impacting. engagement with the portions 5 5 from which it will rebound, and roll back outwardly from the recess '7.

Again, if the ball.15 be driven in such a'direction that on a golf course green it would follow around the rim of the cup and then fall into the cup, such force, whenthe device13 is being used, and when theball 15 is driven m direction laterally of the axis of thedevice, will causethe ball to roll aroundin the recess'l, being held therein by the portions 6 and 6' andcome to rest without'rollingout of the recess. But if, the.

ball be driven in a manner to rim the golf course cup and pass on without falling intothe cup, it will in the present instance roll around in the recess 7 for a short distance and then roll out of the recess.

In other words, as will be seen from the above description, the ballwill be caught and retained by the device 13 only in those cases in which the ball would have been caught and retained if similarly driven toward a golf course cup. r

The grip of the portion 6-6 on the ball 15 may be adjusted as will be understood by adjusting the nut 11 to vary the tension of the washer 12.

After the ball is engaged in the recess '7 or the grip portion 6-6, the ball may be'released by effecting a slight pressure, by means of the foot of the player or the head of his golf club upon the outer rim of the top element at a point opposite theside that engages the ball, thereby causing the grip portions 66' engaging the ball to extend themselves to an opening larger than the diameter of the ball and to expel the same. The ball may then be picked up without disturbing the position of the golf cup.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modification in which the washer 112 is placed between the bottoms 102-402 of elements 101-101. In this form the nut 111 is in engagement with one of the bottoms 1 02. Upon adjusting the nut 111, not only is the resilience of the washer 112 adjusted, but the distance between the elements 101 is adjusted and therefore the width of the recess 7 is adjusted.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described. For example, whereas the elements 1 are circular, they may have other shapes to add interest and difficulty to the game. And whereas I have described the washer 12 as preferably of rubber or like material, it will be apparent that asimilar effect may, be obtained with a spring, and whereas the elements 11' are formed from sheet metal, they may beformed from wood; or other solid material, or cast. from suitable material, such for example as aluminum.

Ag'ainlmay in some instances wish to dispense with the resilient washer 12 and effect a ball gripping action in the device solely by the weight of the upper element 1.

Many other changes and modifications may be made without departing fromv the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

1. In a device of the class described, a pair of like pressedsheet metal dish-form elements having perforated bottom portions disposed in confronting relation, a connecting element extending through the perforations to align the elements and prevent their separation, and a resilient element positioned by the connecting element and normally retaining the elements in pre- 1 determined relative position but yieldingly permitting one to be rocked bodily relative to the other.- I

2. In a device of the class described and as set forth in claim 1, and in which the resilient element has a. central opening through which the connecting element extends.

3. In a device of the class described and as set forth in claim 1,' and in which the resilient element is disposed between the bottoms of the sheet metal elements andthe connecting element extends through the perforations of the bottom elements and through the resilientelement and is provided with enlarged portions engaging innerforth in claim 1, and in which the connecting element extends through the perforations of the bottom portions and then through an opening in the resilient element and has enlarged portions one engaging the inner surface of a bottom por tion and the other engaging the resilient element.

5. In a device of the class described and as set forth in claim 1, and in which the two bottom portions are in juxtaposed relation and the resilient element is disposed within one of the cupform elements.

6. In a device of the class described and as set forth in claim 1, and in which the resilient element is disposed between the two bottom portions.

7. In a device of the class described a generally circular supporting base element, a generally circular upper element coaxially supported thereby, the base and upper element having opposite mutually confronting surfaces thereon forming therebetween an annular outwardly radially open recess, the upper element being secured to the base element by a generally central universal joint construction permitting the upper element to rock on the base element and comprising resilient means for yieldingly opposing rocking movement, and comprising a connecting means preventing separation of the base and upper element and retaining them in generally coaxial relation.

8. A device as described in claim 7 and in which the outwardly radially open recess is outwardly radially diverging.

9. A device as described in claim 7 and in which the joint construction also permits the upper element to rotate on the base element.

10. A device as described in claim 7 and in which the resilient means comprises a resiliently compressible element yieldingly compressible by the rocking of the upper element upon the base.

11. A device as described in claim 7 and in which the resilient means is compressible and disposed between central portions of the base and upper element, and the connecting means comprises a bolt element projected through central portions of the upper element and the base and through the compressible resilient element, and is adjustable to adjust the compression of the resilient element.

12. A device as described in claim 7 and in which the joint construction connects central adjacent portions of the base and upper element, and comprises a bolt element projected through said central portions, an adjusting nut on the bolt element, and the resilient element is a compressible element adjustably compressible by adjusting the nut.

which the joint construction connects central adjacent portions of the base and upper element and comprises a bolt element projected through said central portions, an adjusting nut on the bolt element, the central portions of the base and upper element being clamped between a head of the bolt element and the nut thereof, and resilient means comprising a compressible element adjustably compressible between the base element and the upper element by adjusting the nut,

14. A device as described in claim 7, and in which the joint construction connects central adjacent'portions of the base and upper element,

1 13. A device as described in claim 7 and in 

